(Bloomberg) -- Congress is on track to end a showdown over Homeland Security Department spending and immigration policy after House Speaker John Boehner defied hard-line Republicans by allowing a vote on agency funding through September.

Finally - after much anticipation, the Nasdaq Composite Index has closed above the 5,000 mark for the first time since March 2000, and it's very near its Internet bubble all-time closing high of 5048.62.

The electronics retailer on Tuesday said its U.S. same-store sales increased for two consecutive quarters - the first time that's happened in nearly five years - and outlined plans to spend millions more to ensure it can maintain that growth rate.

Top business executives are pressing Congress to give President Barack Obama greater authority to negotiate international trade deals, citing the potential for increased hiring in the United States and greater competitiveness for their companies overseas.